Glass tube reshaping apparatus



Sept. 19, 1950 A. T. GASKILL ETAL GLASS TUBE RESHAPING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1944 Inven'toT-s: Atff'ed '1, GaskiLL,

ChavLes EBock,

Their A=ttorney Sept. 19, 1950 A. T. GASKILL EIAL 2,523,006

S GLASS TUBE RESHAPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q!lnvewtor's:

Akhed T GaskiLL, Char'Les E. Bock,

Their A't'torneg.

Fig.2.

Sept. 19, 1950 A. T. GASKILL EI'AL 2,523,006

GLASS TUBE RESHAPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. :5, 1944lnven tors: AL f'r'ed T GaskiLL, b3

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 Alfred T. Gaskill, Cleveland Heights, andCharles E. Bock, Cleveland, Ohio, tassignors toGeneral Electric Company,a corporation of New York Application January 3, 1944, s 5,116,750 a 11Claims.

'Our invention relates, in general, to apparatus for reshaping glasstubing and then'severing it to'form individual blanks. Moreparticularly, our

' Iinventionrelatesto apparatus for automatically forming glass bulbs orblanks for electrical devicessuch as electron discharge devices, lamps,etc. I

The manufacture of certain type of radio tubes requires the use of asmall cylindrical glass bulb or envelope of determinate length and hav-I ing a short tubular protuberance or nipple projecting therefrom(preferably concentrically from an end thereof forpermittingtubulationof the bulb for exhaustpurposes.

Another object of our inven'tion is to provide f apparatus forautomatically producing,;at a high rate of speed, glass bulbs of theabove "mentioned character.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from thefollowing description of -a speciesthereof and from the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus compris .ing our invention; Fig.2 is a plan view of the 1 apparatus shown in Fig.1; Fig.8 is a,longitudinal vertical sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig 4 isan elevation; partly in section, through one of the roller cradles ofthe apparatus comprising our invention and showing the pressure andforming rollers in their first opera-1 tive position; Figs. 5.and,.6'are elevations corre-. sponding to Fig. 4 but showing the pressure andforming rollers in their second and third opera-' tive positions,respectively; Fig. 7 is an enlarged lengths or :blanks ID of glasstubing are first. heated at the midpoint thereof, then stretched to anexact predetermined length, then necked at the heated mid-sectionthereof and a'sharp annular indentation formed in the necked portion toprovide a predominant line ofweakness in the tube, and finally severedat the indentaf2 comprises a stand H "preferably fabricated of T-iron-and having a'flat table'or bed plate [2 extending acrossa'ndifastenedto'the top thereof.

Mounted on the table I2 adjacent one end a thereof is a blank feedingmechanism I3 for feeding the'tubular glassblankslfl" to the processingmechanism of the machine. The said feeding mechanism [3 comprises aninclined feeder tray l4 suitably secured,'as by angles [5 and braces Hi,to a pair of upstanding spaced brackets I! mounted on the table"l2..'The said feeder tray l4 comprises arectangular frame [8 preferably madeof hardwood strips and provided with three separate and parallel storagechutes or guide ways [9 each arranged to hold a line of the tubularglass blanks ID to be processed. Each of the said chutes or guideways l9comprises a bottom 2ll',preferablyinthe form of a'strip of hardwood, anda pair of parallel'metal side strips or flanges 2| fastened to'fand'projecting upwardly from the chute botton'fZD 'a suflicient' distance toretain the line aof glassblanks ID in the chute. The parallel sides'ZIof each chute are spaced apart a distancezslightly greater than thelength of the glass blanks I0 56 asto permit free sliding or rollingmovement of the tubular glass blanks 10 down the chute. i l

. 'Disposedopposite the" discharge end of each chute l9 andi'n-linetherewith is a rotating feed selector "device 22 .for picking up thetubular glass blanks" I0 -one-at a time from the line of blanks "in thechute and'feeding them to the reshaping mechanism of the "machine. Thesaid feed sele'ctori22 comprises' apair of hubbed feed discs. 23 (onepair for ea'chchute l9) which are rotatively looked, as by set screws,on a common hori'zontal 's'haft 25" extending transversely of the chutesand journaled at its opposite ends in bearingstfi' in-gthew'i'bracketsH. The two feed discs 23' of each 'pair extend a short distance into thedischarge end of the associated chute 9 for. whi'chpurpose thebottompzll of the chute is suitably notched, 'as indicated'at 21 in Fig.2,

t to accommodatethe twospaced discs 23 between tion, as by subjectingthe tube to a mechanical shock, to thereby dividethe tube into a pair ofidentical glass bulbs each provided With'a nipple at one end thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprising our invention ispreferably of the mul.

Q tiple type for simultaneously processing'a p1u-.-

rality (preferably 3)of the tubular glass blanks m Asshown in thedrawings, the said machine,

' Thefeedselector shaft 25 and the feeddiscs 23mountedlthereon;;meslowly rotated in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig, 1 bysuitable means hereinafter-described. Each time 23 comes opposite thelower end of the line of glass blanks ID in the associated chute l9during the rotation of the said discs, the lowermost glass tube or blank||l drops or rolls into the said aligned notches 28 and is then carriedup and around by the discs 23 to the other side of the discswhere it ispicked up and drawn out of the disc notches 28 by a downwardly inclinedtrack or runway 29 down which the glass tube then rolls to the reshapingmechanism 30 of the machine. To prevent bunching or piling up of theglass blanks H] at the lower end of the chute l9, a condition whichmight otherwise cause the feed selector discs 23 to pick up more thanone of the glass blanks at a time, a guidestrip or bar 3| is mounted onthe feeder tray M to extend transversely across the chutes l9 and abovethe same at a point immediately adjacent the peripheries of the feeddiscs 23. The said guide bar 3| thus permits only one glass tube 'orblank ID at a time to rest against theperipheries of the two feed. discs23 and to be picked up and fed by the said discs to the reshapingmechanism 30..

The runways 29 each comprise a pair of vertically arranged plate-shapedrunners 32 each secured by an upright post 33 and a support block 34 'toa horizontal rod 35 extending transversely of the machine and fastenedat its opposite ends to the spaced brackets IT by suitable mountingbrackets 36. The upper'edges 31 of the. run ners 32 are inclineddownwardly away from the feed discs 23,. and each pair of the saidrunners 32 are disposed. on. the opposite outer sides of the associatedpair of feed discs 23 in suificiently'close and overlapping relationthereto to engage the projecting opposite end portions of the glassblank ID in the feed disc notches 28 when the said blank is carriedaround to the runway 29 by the rotating feed discs 23. The continuedrotation of the feed discs 23 following such engagement of the glassblank [0 with the downwardly inclinedv upper edges 3'! of the runners32', thus causes the glass blank l'll to be drawn completely out of thefeed disc notches. 28, whereupon the glass blank I0 is then free to rolldown the runners 32' to the reshaping mechanism 38 of the machine. Toguide the blanks Ill laterally within the runways 29 as they rolldown'the same to the reshaping mechanism 30', each runway is; providedwith a pair of vertically extending parallel side or guide flanges 38'between which the glass blanks |0 extend. The two guide flanges 38 ofeach runway are suitably secured, as by riveting, to the runner plates32 and the front ends. of the said flanges (i. e., the ends adjacent thefeed discs 23) are flared outwardly away from one. another, as indicatedat 39 in Fig. 2, to thereby guide the tubular blanks l0 into and betweenthe parallel extending portions of the said guide flanges 38.

' As'shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the means for rotating the feed selectordiscs 23 comprises an electric motor 49 mounted below the table |2 ofthe machine on a shelf portion 4| of the machine stand The motor 40 iscoupled to a. speed reducer 42 likewise mounted on the shelf 4| andsuitably connected to a scountershaft 43, as by a V-belt 44 andco-operating V-pulleys 45, 46 on the speed reducer shaft 41 andcountershaft 43, respectively. The countershaft 43, which is journaledin bearings 48 mounted on the shelf 4|, is in turn suitably connected toa second speed reducer 49 mounted on the shelf 4| as 4 by a V-belt 59and co-operating pulleys 5|, 52 on the countershaft 43 and speed reducershaft 53, respectively. The low-speed shaft 54 of the speed reducer 49is provided with a sprocket 55 which is connected by a drive chain 56 toa sprocket 51 on the feed selector shaft 25 to thereby complete thedrive for the said feed selector shaft and the feed discs 23 thereon.Suitable means may be provided for tightening the chain 56, such as asprocket 58 engaging the said chain and rotatably mounted on a sup- 7port arm 59 adjustably fastened to the machine stand Disposed oppositethe discharge end of each runway 29 and in alignment therewith is aroller cradle 6|]- formed of a plurality (preferably two) of opposedpairs or sets of rotatable rollers 6|, 62 for supporting and rotatingthe glass blanks -|9- about their longitudinal axes during the reshapingthereof. As shown in Fig. 2, the said rollers: 6.1, 62 are disposed withtheir peripheries close together so that the upper, converging arcs ofthe several rollers form a cradle notch within which the glass blanks I0are received and supported, the blanks being directed into the cradlenotch of each roller cradle 60 by the associated runway 29. Theperipheries of rollers 62 are preferably annul-arly grooved or notchedas indicated at62', but: rollers 6| are preferably formed with plaincylindrical peripheries to prevent angling or improper positioning ofthe glass blanks U in the roller cradles til.

The rollers 6|, 62 of the several roller cradles 68 are mounted onparallel, horizontal shafts 63 and 64, respectively, which extendtransversely and are spaced longitudinally of the machine, the rollerspreferably being formed integral with the said shafts so as to rotate asa unit therewith. Roller shaft 53 is journaled at its opposite ends inbearings 65 on a pair of laterally-spaced upstanding roller-supportbrackets 66 mounted on the machine table |2. The other roller shaft 64is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 61 on a pair oflaterally-spaced levers 68, 66. The said levers 68, 69 are pivotallymounted on and keyed to a transversely extending, horizontal pivot shaft16 journaled in bearings H on the roller-support brackets 66. Lever 69is provided with an extension or arm 12 which is connected by a link 13'to one arm of a roller-type cam follower lever 14 located adjacent therear of the machine and pivotally mounted at an intermediate pointthereof on a pin 15 disposed beneath the table |2 and supportedtherefrom by a bracket 16. The other arm of the cam follower lever 14projects upwardly through a slot 11 (Fig. 2) in the table I2 and isprovidedwith a roller 18 which engages and rides on the periphery of arotating disc cam 19 mounted on a horizontal cam shaft extendingtransversely of the machine at the rear end thereof and journaled inbearings 8| on the table l2. The roller 18 of the cam follower lever 14is continuously held against the cam 19 by the action of a tension coilspring 82 connected at one end to the arm 12 of roller support lever 69and at the other end to a stud 83 fastened to and projecting from themachine stand 1 The cam 19, through. the medium of the follower lever14, link 73, roller-support levers 68, 69 and the spring 82, moves theblank-supporting rollers 62 of the several roller cradles 6B alternatelyaway from and back to their normal blanksupporting position closelyadjacent the other rollers 6| of the roller cradles, the cam I9 being soshaped as to move the rollers 62 away from of the blanks I9 to beprocessed.

the other rollers 6I once, for only a short instant, during eachrevolution of the cam 19, and for a distance sufficient to allow theglass blanks I9 supported in the roller cradles 69 to drop between ofthe cam 19, and the remaining or idle portion 95 of the cam surfacedetermines the normal or blank-supporting position of the rollers 62.

The cam shaft 89- is driven by the samechain 56 that drives the feedroll shaft 25 so that the said shafts rotate in timed interrelation, thecam shaft 89' having a sprocket 86* thereon-which is engaged by thedrive chain 56. The said sprocket 86 is ofthe same pitch diameter asthatof the sprocket 51 on the feed roll shaft 25 whereby the cam shaft89 makes onecomplete revolution for each revolution of the feed rollshaft 25.

During the operation of themachine, the blank-supporting rollers 6|; 62arecontin'uously rotated all in the same direction, as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 3 to thereby impart rotation to the glass blanks I9supported in the several roller cradles 69. The said rollers' BI, '62are driven from the shaft 41 of the first speed reducer 42 by means of achain 81 which connects a sprocket 88 on the speed reducer shaft 41 withtwo identical sprockets 89, 89, on the two roller shafts 68, 64. Tomaintain proper tension on the roller drive chain 81 and to allow forthe separating movement of roller shaft 64 from the other roller shaft63 during the operation of the machine, suitable resilient 'tensioningmeans are provided therefor in the formof a sprocket 99 engaging thesaid chain 81 and rotatably mounted on one end of an arm 9 I which ispivotally mounted at its other end on a pin 92 projecting from themachine stand II. A tension coil spring 93, connected atone end to thearm 9| and at its other end to the stud 83 on the machine stand II, actsto maintain substantially constant tension' in the chain 81. I I

' The glass blanks I9 are directed by each runway 29 into the cradlenotch of the: associated roller cradle 69 and ma position between a pairof opposed anti-friction end stops or abutments 95, 96 against which theopposite ends of the glass blanks I9 are adapted to abut during thereshaping operation. The two end stops 95, 96 together act as alength-gauge for determining the exact length to which the glass blanksI9 are to be stretched during the'reshaping' operation, the length-gaugthus insuring a uniform final overall length for the reshaped individualglass blanks. Preferably, the end stops 95, 96 are spaced apart adistance only slightly greater (in the particular instance shownapproximately {E of an inch greater) than the average length As shown inFig. 4, the said end stops 95, 98 each comprise a cup-shaped button 91rotatably mounted on a pin 98 to rotate about an axis parallel to andsubstantially coinciding'with the axis of rotation of the glass blanksI9 when supported in the associated roller cradle 69.. The button 91 issupported onthe' pin 98 by a roller bearing 99 so as to be freelyrotatable thereon. The said button 91 has a flat end wall I 99 at leastthe exposed blank-engaging surface of which is of a sufficientlywear-resisting character, for

' instance case-hardened, to withstand any and all wearing actionincident to the engagement of the "said surface with the ends oftherotating glass :blank I9 in \the roller cradle '69. The gauge buttonsupport pin 981s mounted in a collar I9I carried by an uprightpost I92,the said post being forked at its; upper. end to provide two verticalarms I93 which slidably fit more or less tightly into an annular grooveI94 in the periphery of the collar I9I to thereby provide the supportfor the collar. The gauge button support post I 92 is fastened at itslower end to a bracket I95 adjustably mounted on a cross rod I96, thepost being vertically adjustable in the said bracket I95 so as to enablethe setting of the rotatable button 91 at the proper height to align itsaxis of rotation with that of the glass blanks I9 when supported in theassociated roller cradle 69. The cross rod I96 is-supported at itsopposite .ends inthe roller support brackets 66, and the post supportbracket I95 is adjustable longitudinally of the cross rod I96 so as toenable the setting of the two opposed end stops 95, 96 the desireddistance apart and in aligned relation with th associated runway 29 andwith the other parts of the reshaping mechanism. 39 of the machine.

Disposed above each roller cradle 69 so as to overlie the glass blanks I9 when supported therein is a group of three laterally-spaced rollerscomprising two oppositely-canted pressure rollers I91 and I98 arrangedon opposite sides of a central, formingroller I99. The thre rollers I91, I98, and I99 are 'rotatably mounted on the forward ends of threeseparate support or lever arms I 91', I98, and I99, respectively, whichextend rearwardly from the said rollers. The forming roller I99 isrotatably mounted on its lever arm I99 torotate about an axis parallelto th axis of rotation of the glass blank I9 in the roller cradle 69.The two pressure rollers I91 and I98, 'however, are rotatably mounted ontheir respec- 'tive lever arms I91 and I 98' to rotate about axes cantedin opposite directions with respect to the axis of rotation of the glassblank I9 in the roller cradle 69 whereby the said rollers I91, I98 exertV oppositely directed forces or endwise thrusts on the glass blanktending to stretch it or pull it apart when the'said roller are inrolling contact with the blank. Obviously, to exert such stretch- :ingor elongating thrusts on the glass blank I9, the angles of inclinationor cant of each of the two rollers I91, I98 must be in such directionsin relation. to the direction of rotation of the glass blank I9 in theroller cradle 69 as to cause each of the said rollers to exert anendwise thrust on the glass blank tending to mov it endwise intoabutting engagement with the corresponding adjacent end stop 95 or 96when the said roller is in rolling engagement with the glass blank.

In accordance with the invention, one of the pressure rollers I91, I98is canted at an angle "slightly'greater than the angle of cant of theother of said rollers so as to exert an endwise ="thrust on the glassblank lfl'slightly greater than that exerted by the said other roller.Thus, in the particular case shown, the roller I91 (hereinafter referredto as the blank-positioning roller) is preferably canted at an angle of10 or. thereabouts while the other roller I98 (hereinafter referred toas the blank-stretching roller) is "canted at a slightly smaller angleof preferably 7 or thereabouts'." i

The three roller support or lever arms I91, Y I98 and I99 arepivotally'mounted at their rear :'ends on a common horizontal pivot pinII9 ex- .tending transversely of the machine and supported, at itsopposite ends, in the mid-region of an inverted L-shaped carrier=bracket"or block III. The three support arms-101', 1'08 and I09 aremaintained in proper spaced position'on the pivot pin IIO by means ofspacer blocks III interposed. between the/said support arms. One arm H2of the carrier bracket III extends forwardly and is formed with a wallportion H3 which underlies the three lever arms I01, I08

and I09. The said wall portion H3 of the carrier bracket II I isprovided with three adjustment or set screws I01", I08 and I09" (one foreach of the lever arms I01, I08 and I09) which are threaded up throughthe wall H3 in line with the said lever'arms to form stops against whichthe lever arms rest to thereby "fix the relative elevation of thethreerollers I07, I08 and I09 with respect to one another when in theirraised, inoperative position. As shown inFig. 3, the three set screwsI01", I08" and'I09" are so adjusted as to vertically separate the threerollers I01, I08 and 109 'a slight distance apart relative to oneanother when in their raised inoperative position, with theblank-positioning roller I! lowermost and the blank-forming roller" I09uppermost. The other arm H4 of the carrier bracket I II extendsdownwardly and is keyed to a cross shaft H5 journaled at its oppositeends in bearings H6 on laterally-spaced upstanding support brackets II'Ifastened to the machine table I2.

The three carrier brackets III (there being a separate bracket I II foreach of the threegroups of rollers I01, I08 and I09) are all keyed tothe cross shaft H5, and the said shaft is provided with a depending camfollower arm [I8 keyed to one end of th shaft and having a roller H9 atits lower end which engages and rides on the periphery of a cam I20mounted on the cam shaft 80. As shown in Fig. 1, the periphery of thesaid cam I20 is provided with three drops or falls A, B and C located atspaced intervals therearound for lowering each roller assembly R,comprising the three rollers I01, I08 and I09, successively to threedifferent operative positions, i. e., a blank-positioning position, ablankstretching position and a blank-forming position. The first drop Aof the cam I20 lowers each roller assembly sufficiently (e. g., to itsfirst or blankpositioning position) to allow only the lowermost orblank-positioning roller I01 thereof to engage and rest of its ownweight onthe glass blank -.I0 in the associated cradle 60, as shown inFig. 4. The second drop B of the cam I20 lowers each roller assembly R afurther amount (e. g., to its second or blank-stretching position)sufiicient to allow the second or blank-stretching roller I 08 to alsoengage and rest of its own weight on the glass blank I0 along with theblank-positioning roller I01, as shown in Fig. 5. The third drop C ofthe cam I20 then lowers each roller assembly R. a still further amount(e. g., to its third. or blank-forming position) sufficient to allow thethird or blank-forming roller 'I09to engage the glass blank I0 alongwith the two other rollers I91 and I 08, as shown in Fig. 6. Thesubsequent rise D of th cam I 20 then lifts th roller assembly R to itsraised, inoperativ position, in

which position it is then held by the maximally 122 for directingpointed gas fires-"I23 against theperfipheral isurfacerof the rotatingglass blank ID .in the roller cradle, the said burners being so arrangedas to heat the blank I0 at a region substantially midway between the twoopposed end stops 95, 98. Each pair of burners I22, I22 is supported ona separate burner holder bracket I24, the several holder brackets I24being mounted, in turn, on a common cross rod I25 supported at itsopposite ends .in the roller support brackets 66. The burners I22 areconnected by pipes I26 to a source of a suitable gaseous combustionadmixture such as gas and air, the pipes I26 connectingwith other pipesI21 and I28 which are connected, respectively, to sources of air and gassupply (not shown).

The ro'tative position of the feed discs 23 on their common supportshaft 25 is so related with the rotative positions of the actuating camsI9 and I20 on the cam :shaft as to deliver the glass blanks In to theroller cradles 60 during the interval when the roller assemblies R, areheld in their raised, inoperative position (by reason of the engagementof the roller I I9 of cam follower arm I I8 with the maximally elevatedportion I'2-I of the said cam I20) and just after the displaceablerollers '62 of the roller cradles have been returned to their normalblanksupporting position. by reason of the action of the spring 82 onlever 69 in causing the roller 18 of cam follower lever H to ride downthe hump .84 on cam 19.

As soon as a glass blank I0 has been delivered to each roller cradle 00and .is supported in position on the rotating rollers BI, -62 thereof,the roller assembly R drops to .its first operative position (by virtueof the team follower roller H9 riding down the drop A of cam I20) tothereby permit the blank-positioning roller I'0'I having the greatercant to engage and rest of its own weight on the right-hand portion(Fig. 4) of the rotating glass blank 10, as a result of which the saidroller rotates alongwith the glass blank and, because of its canteddisposition, exerts an end thrust on the blank serving to move thelatter endwise in the roller cradle (to the right as Viewed in Fig. 4)into abutting engagement with the end stop 95. In this manner, the blankI0 is positioned and continuously held in the roller cradle 60 with theright end I29 thereof (i. e., the end in engagement with the stoplocated in a predetermined position transversely of the forming rollerI09.

- Meanwhile, the gas fires I23 continuously heat the positioned blank I0at a region substantially midwa between the opposed end stops 95, 96.After the rotating glass blank I0 has been thus heated :for a period oftime sufiicient for the glass to become plastic (preferably about twoseconds or so in the case of a soft glass tube of the proportionsshown), the roller assembly R. then drops to its second orblank-stretching position (by reason of the cam follower roller H9riding down the drop B of cam I20) so as to permit theblankstretchingroller I08 of the lesser cant to engage and rest of itsown weight on the left-hand portion of the rotating blank I0, thecompanion roller I01 meanwhile maintaining its rolling contact with theright-hand portion of the blank. The resulting effect of'the concomitantengagement of the tw oppositelycanted rollers I01, I08 with the rotatingglass blank I 0, at points on opposite sides'of the heated and plasticcenter portion thereof, is to impress two opposed end thrusts or forceson the :;g1ass blanks directed :away'from oneanother against theotherend stop 96; as shown in Fi 5.

The constant maintenanceof theright-hand por- I tion of. the blank inagainst the end stop-95 during theentire blank-stretching operation isassured by the greater angle of inclination or cant of roller .I01ascompared with roller I08; the roller .I 01, because of its greater cant,accordingly I exerting a rightwardly directed end thrust of greatermagnitude thanthe leftwardly directed endthrustgexerted by, thecompanion roller; I08.-

The maintenance ofitheqright-hand half-of the glass blank I0 against,the end stop' 95 by the roller 1 in I during the. blank-stretching.operation 1 assures that the stretching of the-individual glass blanks I0 will uniformly occurin the same manner and at'the, same pointlongitudinall thereof,

and-also that the blanks will be uniformly stretched to the samepredetermined length as determined by the separation of the length-gaugeend stops 9596;

After the two oppositely-canted rollers I01, I08 of each roller assemblyR have been in rolling contact with the rotating glass blank I0 for aperiod of time at least sufficient to insure the stretching of the blankto the full distancev between the end stops 95, 96 (in the particularcase -a-.period'of eight seconds orthereabouts), the

roller assembly R then drops to its lowermost or cradle 60 then separatefrom the other rollers BI thereof (by reason of the engagement of roller18 on cam follower lever 14 with thehump 84 on cam 19) to thereby permitthe reshaped glass blanks I0 to-drop between the separated rollers BI 62and down onto a forwardlyextending slide I34 fastenedat its forward endto the upstanding brackets I 1 by angles I35 and resting at its rear endon the pivot shaft 10 for the roller support levers68,.69. I i v i Upondropping onto the slide I34, the blanks iii are temporarily held fromrolling or sliding down the same, for a period sufficient to enable theblanks to cool, by a pivotal gate mechanism I36 operated in timedrelation withthe separating movement of the blank-supporting rollers 62.

, The said gate mechanism I36 comprises a retaining or gate bar I31extending transversely across the slide I34-immediately above the sameandagainst which the blanks I0 rest during the holding, orcoolingperiod, as shown in dotted lines in- Fig. 3. The retaining barI31 forms one side of a rectangular frame I38 having as its I20, tothereby permit the forming roller I09 to engage the heated and plasticcenter portion of the rotating'glass blank (Fig. 6) and neck the latter,at the exact center thereof, to a predete'rmined extent as determined bythe setting of the co-operating stop I09! on the carrier'bracket "I I I;Upon engagement'with the heated and plasof. any suitable shape, but forthe purpose of the present invention is preferably of cylindricalformand provided with an annular ridge I3I, preferably of pointed orwedge shapeflocated centrally of the roller face. The ridge I3I thusforms a more or less sharp indentation or .V-shaped groove I32 (Fig. '7)in the center of the necked portion I33 of the glass tube serving toproduceapredominant line of weakness in the tube (asindicated bythedash-dot'line in Fig. '1) alongwhich line the tube will readily crack orbreak when it is subjected to a mechanical shock or: blow' of propercharacter. a

The'engagement of'the forming roller I09 with the blank I0 to performthe necking thereof 'p 'eferabl'y continues for only a relatively short"period of time,' such as /2 second or thereabouts,

after which the roller assembly R is raised to its normal, elevatedposition by reason of the roller M9 on cam follower arm I I8 riding upthe rise D of 0am I 2}) to the maximally elevated portion I2 I thereof.With the roller assembly R'held in such elevated'position, the rollers62 of each roller other members a pair of forwardly extending end barsI39 and a front tie rod I40. The said frame I33 is pivotally mounted onthe transversely extending runner support rod 35 to permit verticalrocking movement of the frame, and the portion of the frame extendingrearwardly of the pivot rod- 35 over-balances the portion of the frameextending forwardly of said rod whereby the retaining bar I31 at therear of the frame normally rests in its lowered blank-retainingposition, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the blanks I0 have been retained-by the retaining bar I31 for aperiod sufficient to enable the blanks to cool, the frame I38 is rockedtolift the retaining bar 131 away from the slide I34 and permit theblanks I0 to slide or roll down the said slide. The rocking of the frameI38 is pro Qd uced by a disc cam I4I (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted .on thefeed disc shaft 25, the frame I38 having a follower pin I42 projecting ufrom the forward portion of. one ofthe frame end bars I39 and engagingwith the periphery of the cam MI. The retaining bar I31 of the frame I38is held in its raised, blank-releasing position for only a brief instantsufiicient to enable the escape of the blanks I0 down the'slide I34, thecam I4I for such purpose being provided with a small protuberance I43 onits peripheral cam surface. The

rotativeposition of the frame actuating cam I4 I on its support shaft 25is preferably so related with the rotative position of the roller cradlerollseparating cam 19 on the cam shaft 89 as to raise theblank-retaining bar I31 to release; the blanks I0 down the slide I34,and to return to its nor mal blank-retaining position, just before thecam 19 separates the rollers 62 of the roller cradles from the otherrollers 0| thereof to allow the next group of blanks I0 to drop from theroller cradles onto the slide I34. I

Upon being released by the retaining bar I31, the blanks I0 slide orroll down the slide I34 and strike against the upwardlyextending farside I44 of; and drop into, a transversely arranged chute I45 which isfastened to the front of the machine stand II and delivers theblanksinto a suitable'storage hamper or to other receiving means. Theimpact of the glass blanks. -I0 against the chute side I 44 breaksorjsevers the blanks in two at the notch I32 in the necked midsectionI33 thereofto thereby form two individual and exactly alike bulb blanksI46of the shape shown in Fig. 8, each bulb blank'lfifi hay;-

inga '-cntra11 located hippie M! atone end theieof-iortubulatihgpurposes;

What We -claim a -new ahd 'd'esire tosecure by isttersratent or theUnitedStaltes is:

1. H1 apparatus of the-eh'aracter described, a rater assembly comprisingapair of oppositely 'e'a'rit'ed rollers arrah-ged to i est and rollonopposite sides of -a hea't'ed portien or ahdri'zontally setters-earotating glass tube said roller-s having different degrees of cant,separate support arms for e'ach of said reller s', a' pivotal b'racketon the support-aims "are pivotallymounted, 'stop fnaris on'said'r'aoket'for normally supparting said arms in fixed positions above saidwas, andc"an 1*rnea for pivoting said bracket to row rinwengagm nt withthetubefirst the rolls iaving the greaterhantand then the roller havingthelesserdarit;

2. an a paratus of the character described, a roller s'semlo'lycomprising a pair -of oppositely barited rollers arranged to restandroll on opposire sides of a hea ted =por t-ionof a horizon-tallysupported rotating glass tube, a forming roller arranged to rest *androll {on the heated portion of "the tribe, separate s'upp'ort'arms foreach of said rbllers, a pivotal *bracket having ashaft on -vvh c'h saidarms are "-pivotally mounted, stop inean's' d n said bracket forsupporting the forming rollerin 'a position elevated with respect to thecanted rollers, and oam means for pivoting s'alid bracket to first loivrthecanted rollers into "rolling engagement with "the [rotating tube "andto subsequently --lotver' -the forming roller into rolling engagementWith the heated portion .of 'the -tubeuntil' the tube -is formed to apredetersha'ee. 7 I

"Apparatus for forming articles from a glass tube 5 comprisingmeainsfor-supportingthe tube, means for heating *a-n intermediate 1 portion ofthe tube, means for annularly indenting the healt'ed portion of the tubeto form apredominant lin'e f Weakness therein, a slide adjacent saidsupport m'ea'ns tor receiving the heated and fei nied tube fromthe""support'means, means for effecting delivery of *the tube from "saidsupporting' fme'ans to said slide, me'ans 'for temporarily lio'ldirig'said 'tubeat the upper end of saicl slide while the heatd"portic inthereof -cools and for 'subse u nu releasing the tuloe so itslidestherealong arid a striker i-nembe'r arranged adjacent thelower'endof-the slide to impart amechanical shock -to the cooled tube serving tosever the tube at the said'al-ine o'f Weakness.

4/ Apparatus for fo'rm-ingartieles' fro m -a glass tube comprising meansforf suppor tingthe tube horizontally, means forlie'ating 'anintermediate portion of the tube, 'means for 'annularly indenting theheated-portion of the tube to form -a predominant lineofweaknesstherein,a slide fo'r reeiv'i'rig the heate'd and formed tube from the supportmeans in a po'sitio1'1--toroll down said slide, means for effecting'transfer of the -tuhe' from'saidsupport means to said slide a ga-t'e' for temporarily holding the formed tube from rolling down'the slide untilthe heated h *portionof the'tube cools, means for opening said gateftorelease the'cooled tube and permit it to'rolldown the s1ide,'and astriker "member in the 'path 0f movement of the tube down the slide'fo'rimparting'a mechanical'shock to the cooled tube serving to severthe'tube'at th'efsaid lineof Weakness therein.

'5. Apparatus for formingarticles from"a 'glass tube comprisingmeansfo'r supporting rhyme horizontally, feed means "including arotating reed shaft for delivering the tube to the sup port means, meansfor heating an intermediate portion of the tube i n said supportmeans,fmeans for annularly indenting the heated portion of the tube toform a predominant line of weakness therein, a slide for receiving theheated and formed tube if rom the support means in a position tor011down said slidejmeans for'effecting "transfer of the'tu'be from saidsupport means to said slide a gate for temp'orarilyiholding the formedtube from rolling down the slide 'until the heated portion of thetubecools, cam means on said feed shaft for opening said gate to release thecooled tube and permit it to roll down the slide, and a striker memberin the path of movement of the tube down the slide for impartingame'cha'nical shock to the cooled tube serving to sever the tube at the.said line of weakness therein. 7

. 6. Apparatus for reshaping glass tubes comiprising'a pair of opposedrollers forming a, roller cradle for supporting theglass tubehorizontally therein, means for heating a portion of the tube in thecradle, means for reshaping the heated portion'of -the tube to form anannular line of weakness therein, tube receiving means disposed underthe roller cradle, means for separating said rollers to Epermit the tubeto drop therebetween and down onto 'the said receiving means, and meansin cooperative relation to said tube receiving' 'means for impartingmechanical shock to the tubeto sever it at its line of Weakness.

'7. Apparatus for reshapingfgla'sstubes comprising a pairo'f 'oppose'drollers forming a-roller cradle for supporting the glass tubehorizontally therein, a pivota'l support for-one of said rollers,-mea'ns'forheating a portion of the tube in the cradle, :means forreshaping the heated portion of the tube to form'an annular line ofweakness therein, tube receiving means disposed under the roller cradle,means for pivoting the said pivotal support to separate the rollercarried thereby from the other of said rollers to permit the tube todroptherebetween and down onto thesaidreceiving means, --and means incooper- =at ive relation to said tube receiving means for imparting a-mechanical shock to the tube to sever itat its line of weakness.

8. Apparatus for reshaping glass tubes comprising a pair" of opposed-rollers-forming a roller cradle for supporting the-glass tubehorizontally therein, one of said rollers being mounted for movementbodily'a-wayfrom the-other of said rollers, -means adjacent said roller,cradle for said rollers to permit the tube to drop therebetvveen anddown onto-the said=receiving means, and means forefiectingoperation ofthe two aforesaid oar-n -mea'ns in .proper time relation.

9. Apparatus for reshapi g glass tubes comprising alpair of opposedrollersforminga roller cradle for supportingtha glass tube horizontallytherein a pivotal support for one of said rollers to .permitbodilymovement of -said-roller relative to the other of saidrollers,resilient means for maintaining thesaid one roller in its normal tubesupporting pos itio n, means "for heating a portion of the tube in thecradle, means movably mounted adjacent said roller cradle for reshapingthe heated portion of the tube, cam

means for actuating said reshaping means to move it toward and awayfroma tube in said roller cradle, tube receiving means disposed underthe roller cradle, cam means for pivoting the said pivotal support tomove the roller carried thereby away from the other of said rollers andpermit the tube to drop between said rollers and down onto the saidreceiving means, and means for effecting operation of the two aforesaidcam means in proper time relation.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of means for supporting and rotating a glass tube, means forheating the midsection of the tube to soften it, means for stretchingthe tube on its support to a predetermined length, a forming rollermounted adjacent said tube support means and movable into engagementwith the heated section of said tube to form a neck portion of reduceddiameter, said roller having a sharp ridge around its periphery to forma sharp peripheral indentation at the center of the said neck portion ofthe tube, means for releasing the tube from its support means,

retaining means for receiving the tube from said support means and forsupporting the tube while its heated section cools, means forsubsequently imparting a mechanical shock to the cooled tube to sever itat its peripheral indentation, and means for effecting delivery of thetube from said retaining means to the last named means.

11. Apparatus for reshaping glass tubes comprising means'for supportingand rotating a glass tube, a pair of end stops contiguous with saidsupport means and between which the tube is longitudinally disposed whenpositioned on the support means, said end stops being spaced apart adistance which is slightly greater than the length of the said tube,means arranged in operative relation to said rolls to heat the tubeintermediate its ends, spaced members adapted to engage and draw apartsections of said tube on opposite sides of the heated portion thereof,one of said members being constructed and arranged to exert a greaterpull than the other, a forming roller located in the space between saidmembers and adapted to engage the heated portion of the tube to reshapeit, and means for moving into engagement with said tube first the memberexerting the greater pull and then the said other member and finally thesaid forming roller.

ALFRED T. GASKILL, CHARLES E. BOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 1,208,978 Kadow Dec. 19, 19161,455,056 Koenig May 15, 1923 1,489,836 King Apr. 8, 1924 1,508,358Brown Sept. 9, 1924 1,631,674 Favre June 7, 1927 1,688,190 Koenig Oct.16, 1928 1,914,205 Hooper et al. June 13, 1933 2,058,812 Meyer Oct. 27,1936 2,059,474 Meyer Nov. 3, 1936 2,226,303 Dichter Dec. 24, 19402,291,451 Craig et a1. July 28, 1942 2,310,469 Snyder Feb. 9, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 117,427 Australia Sept. 2, 1943131,532 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1919 245,120 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1926271,972 Great Britain June 9, 1927 725,820 France Jan. 14, 1931

